Professional Documents
Culture Documents
excursions in Downpatrick
Originally posted online on 17 March 2014 at rmchapple.blogspot.com
(http://rmchapple.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/st-patrick-and-tale-of-non-disappearing.html)
In celebration of St. Patricks Day 2012, I posted a short piece on this blog about how the very
beautiful gravestone of the Saint in the grounds of Downpatrick Cathedral is a recent
fabrication, and not an ancient monument. The person behind this apparent deception was
the rather larger than life character Francis Joseph Bigger (1863-1926) [see also: here | here]
and you can read about the whole thing in: St. Patricks Gravestone: A Bigger fake!
Schema of how the three cross fragments could have fit together
In that post I wrote: During the preparation of the grave site three fragments of a broken
cross were recovered. Although searches were carried out to recover further portions, they
were in vain. Bigger notes that the fragments were placed in the cathedral for safe-keeping,
until such time as more pieces could be located and a reconstruction attempted.
Ill admit that a part of me suspected that these pieces would, most likely, be pretty difficult to
find again. Ive heard more than my fair share of stories about items brought into churches for
safe keeping, never to be seen or heard from again. In many ways, this is to be expected
most churches are still living buildings and all it takes is one cleric with more interest in the
breathing congregation than the historic buildings they curate for stuff like this to get moved
about and forgotten. In the century and a bit since the discovery of these three fragments I
reckoned that there was more than ample opportunity for these pieces to go missing. On the
other hand, Id not been inside the cathedral for many years and couldnt remember even if
there were and historic bits and pieces on display.
upstairs, thats incredibly reasonably priced. We had three cups of excellent coffee and two
generous bowls of ice cream, and the lot came to around 7 an absolute bargain for this kind
of attraction. My only regret about the place is that there was no display featuring the
archaeology of the site but then again (to the best of my knowledge) it has never been
published such a shame!
Bronze tweezers with blue glass decoration from the excavation of the Visitor Centre site
All in all, my advice to those interested in Patrick and his history from both near and far
is to come to Downpatrick and see the sights for yourselves. Theyre beautiful, interesting
places, set in gorgeous countryside. Whats not to like?
Inside the exhibition hall, linking Ireland's prehistoric and christian heritages.
Unfortunately, this s the closest we're getting to the Turoe Stone for the foreseeable future.
Wishing all readers a very happy St Patrick's Day & hoping that you'll all come to Northern
Ireland and visit the Saint in person at Downpatrick!